US to approve direct flights from Vietnam

Monday, February 11, 2019 14:54

The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to grant a Category 1 rating to Vietnam soon, allowing its airlines to fly to the US and codeshare with US carriers, according to the Strait Times.

Airplanes of Vietnamese carriers (Photo: Reuters)

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget airline Vietjet Air and newcomer Bamboo Airways have expressed desire to fly to the US. There are currently no non-stop flights between the two countries, despite a large market catering to tourism and visits by friends and relatives.

Travellers looking to visit the country need to connect in other Asian nations such as China and Japan.

Data of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam showed the country’s rapidly growing aviation market saw traffic increase 16 percent on average each year from 2010 to 2017.

Vietnam currently does not hold an FAA rating.

Category 1 means air carriers from a country may initiate or continue service to the US and take part in reciprocal code-share arrangements with US carriers.

Commercial banks have to adjust the limit of cash withdrawals in foreign currency abroad to the maximum equivalent of VND30 million (US$1,280) per day for international credit and debit cards from early this year to meet a central bank regulation.

According to Ms. Ta Thanh Binh, head of the Securities Market Development Department under the State Securities Commission, economic positive prospects this year will create great favorable conditions for Vietnam’s stock market.